The Last Of Us’ Original Abby Reacts To The Show’s Most Shocking Moment

In the HBO series The Last of Us, Episode 2, “Through the Valley,” provided one of the most jaw-dropping TV experiences this year. For those unfamiliar with the original events from The Last of Us Part 2 video game, it was a breathtaking shock, much like Ned Stark’s death on Game of Thrones. Laura Bailey, who plays Abby in the game, recently opened up about her experience working on the project and discovering that the scene mirrored in the episode held a similar truth. Proceed with caution: Spoilers are ahead.

Instead of waiting for Season 3, showrunner Craig Mazin opted against prolonging the suspense for viewers already aware of the events. In an interview with Vulture, Bailey discusses the experience of filming that scene alongside Troy Baker and how portraying Abby has impacted her career.

On that particular day, I recall fixing my gaze into Troy’s eyes while we were acting out a scene. That moment is etched in my memory forever. The most challenging aspect of it was when Ashley appeared on set. I was fully engrossed in my interaction with Troy, and all I heard from behind me was Ashley’s heart-wrenching sobs. Since I knew the camera would be capturing me from behind, I too shed tears, moved by the intensity of the scene and what I had just taken away from her character.

When questioned about whether she anticipated such a strong reaction, she clarified that she was aware it could stir controversy, yet she chose to put her best effort into it anyway.

She had anticipated it to be both intense and contentious, yet her enthusiasm remained unabated as she was eager to present her work globally, having invested so much into that performance and feeling deeply proud of it. However, receiving an immediate negative response was challenging. I don’t believe anyone could have foreseen the magnitude of the backlash. Frankly, we were not prepared for it. But looking back, none of us on the team expected otherwise.

Regarding the enduring impact of the character, Bailey garnered numerous accolades for her acting prowess. Over the past five years since The Last of Us Part 2, she has encountered both hostile fans who made death threats due to their misinterpretation, as well as those who empathized with the character and her complex backstory of revenge.

She wasn’t prepared for the turn of events when it occurred. What she didn’t anticipate was finding herself among individuals who cherished Abby’s tale, she explained. Getting the opportunity to portray, embody, and collaborate on a character like Abby is incredibly uncommon, and it’s a privilege to contribute to such a project. I feel so proud and thankful about it.

In an emotional disclosure, it’s been unveiled that Kaitlyn Dever, who portrays Abby on the series, lost her mother just prior to filming that particular scene. This profound loss left the actress in a kind of haze, and she was granted as much time as required to grieve and process her feelings during this challenging period.

Dever stated that he had lost his mother just a couple of weeks prior to filming this specific scene [on The Last of Us], and her funeral took place three days before he started work. Consequently, he was quite disoriented and hazy during that time.

As Episode 3 approaches, let’s find out how the people of Jackson respond to their recent tragedy and what the pursuit of revenge might entail.

Read More

2025-04-23 19:10